Optimal sensors placement and spillover suppression

A new approach to optimal placement of sensors (OSP) in mechanical structures is presented. In contrast to existing methods, the presented procedure enables a designer to seek for a trade-off between the presence of desirable modes in captured measurements and the elimination of influence of those mode shapes that are not of interest in a given situation. An efficient numerical algorithm is presented, developed from an existing routine based on the Fischer information matrix analysis. We consider two requirements in the optimal sensor placement procedure. On top of the classical ER approach, the sensors configuration should also minimize spillover of unwanted higher modes. We use the information approach to OSP, based on the effective independent method (EFI), and modify the underlying criterion to meet both of our requirements to maximize useful signals and minimize spillover of unwanted modes at the same time. Performance of our approach is demonstrated by means of examples, and a flexible Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft case study related to a running European-level FP7 research project 'ACFA 2020-Active Control for Flexible Aircraft'. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.